Ramesses II

Ramesses II, known as "The Great," is arguably the most powerful and celebrated pharaoh of ancient Egypt. Reigning for 66 years, he lived to be over 90, outliving many of his own children. His era, the High Ramesside Age, marks the pinnacle of Egyptian imperial power and monumental grandeur.

Throne Name	Usermaatre-Setepenre ("The Justice of Ra is Powerful, Chosen of Ra")
Dynasty	19th Dynasty (High Ramesside Age)
Reign	c. 1279–1213 BCE (Approx. 66 Years)
Capital	Pi-Ramesses (Delta) & Thebes (Religious)

Ramesses II defined what it meant to be a pharaoh. He fought the famous Battle of Kadesh, signed the world's first known peace treaty, and built more monuments than any other ruler. His mastery of propaganda ensured that his name would be carved into history forever, visible on nearly every ancient site in Egypt.

Son of the warrior king Seti I and Queen Tuya, Ramesses II was groomed for leadership from childhood. He co-ruled with his father briefly before ascending the throne as a young man. His royal family was vast; he had multiple Great Royal Wives, including the beloved Nefertari and Isetnofret, and fathered over 100 children.

Ramesses II personally led campaigns into the Levant and Nubia to secure territories and suppress revolts. He understood the visual power of war, commissioning massive reliefs that depicted him as a giant smiting enemies. His military policy combined brute force with calculated diplomacy to maintain Egypt's imperial status.

To be closer to his campaigns in the north, he built a magnificent new capital in the Delta: Pi-Ramesses ("The House of Ramesses"). It became a bustling metropolis, a military hub, and a center of administration, rivaling Thebes in splendor.

• Abu Simbel: His most famous monuments, cut directly into the rock in Nubia. The Great Temple features four colossal seated statues of the king, designed so the sun illuminates the inner sanctuary twice a year.
• The Ramesseum: His massive mortuary temple at Thebes, featuring the "Ozymandias" colossus—a shattered statue that inspired poetry about the fleeting nature of power.
• Karnak & Luxor: He added massive pylons, obelisks, and statues to existing temples, often usurping the monuments of earlier kings by carving his name over theirs.

His chief wife, Nefertari ("The Most Beautiful of Them All"), was honored like few other queens. Ramesses II built a dedicated temple for her at Abu Simbel, where her statues stand at the same size as his—a rare display of equality. Her tomb in the Valley of the Queens (QV66) is considered the "Sistine Chapel of Ancient Egypt" for its exquisite beauty.

Ramesses II ruled for so long that he outlived his first twelve heirs. By the time he died in his 90s, he had become a living legend; most Egyptians had never known another pharaoh. He was buried in KV7 in the Valley of the Kings. His mummy, found in the Deir el-Bahari cache, is incredibly well-preserved, revealing the face of the man behind the myth.